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    Foot deformities
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Causes and treatment

Foot malpositions in children

Causes of foot deformity in children

The feet are the foundation of our body. Deformities of the foot have an effect on the entire musculoskeletal system. It is not uncommon for pain in the knees, hips, and back to occur as a result of foot malalignments. This makes it all the more important to take deformities of the foot seriously and treat them in a timely manner.

Foot deformities that occur in childhood can be both congenital and acquired. Congenital foot deformities are either genetically induced or caused by abnormal positions in the womb. These abnormal positions are usually caused by insufficient space in the womb.

Acquired foot deformities develop during the growth of the child’s feet. For example, overweight children may develop foot deformities as a result of lack of movement or incorrectly fitting shoes.

Treatment options for pediatric foot deformities

Diagnoses of foot deformities are informed by thorough examinations of the child’s feet when walking, standing, and lying down. The doctor will pay particular attention to the child’s gait pattern. If there are any abnormalities present, the feet must be appropriately treated. The treatment of foot deformities depends on the cause and severity of each deformity.

If there is a pronounced foot deformity, corrective orthoses, custom orthopedic shoes, as well a physiotherapy may be necessary. Only when all these measures fail should parents consider surgical interventions.

An overview

What types of foot deformities are there?

Children’s feet can have a variety of malpositions in a wide variety of degrees. Many parents are often unsure as to whether their baby actually has a foot deformity that requires treatment. For peace of mind: Foot deformities do not always have to be operated on immediately. Many deformities or malalignments can be corrected using individual orthoses. Here we give an overview of the most common foot deformities seen in children and explain how to recognize them.

Foot drop
Foot drop (pes equinus) is a foot deformity that makes it very difficult for the heel to come...
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Calcaneal foot
For a calcaneal foot (lat. pes calcaneus), the patient’s foot is bent upwards and the sole of the...
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Club foot

The treatment of club foot can be both conservative and operative.

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Flat valgus foot
The term flat valgus foot is a collective term for a group of foot malpositions, which are...
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Pigeon toe

Pigeon toes is one of the most common foot malpositions in infants.

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